Human Rights Day marks the day
on which the United Nations General Assembly, in 1948, adopted the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).

Theme for 2019 Human Rights Day
is – Youth Standing up for Human Rights.

Additional
Information:

About
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)

The UDHR urges member nations
to promote a number of human, civil, economic and social rights. It is not
legally binding.

The Declaration has served as
the foundation for two binding UN human rights covenants: International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and International Covenant on Economic,
Social and Cultural Rights.

These treaties were adopted in
1966, and, together with the UDHR, are known as the International Bill of Human
Rights.

About
United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC)

It is an inter-governmental
body within the United Nations system made up of 47 States. It was established
in 2006 and is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.

It is responsible for the
promotion and protection of all human rights around the world.

UNHRC
elections:

UNHRC member states are elected
yearly by the General Assembly for staggered three-year terms.

Members are selected via the
basis of equitable geographic rotation. Council seats are allocated to the five
regional groups as follows:

News: India has called upon more countries to join the International
Solar Alliance (ISA).

Facts:

About
International Solar Alliance (ISA)

ISA is partnership of solar
resource rich countries. It seeks to address their special energy needs and
provide a platform to collaborate on development of solar energy resource. It
is registered as an intergovernmental body under Article 102 of the UN Charter.

It was jointly launched by the
Prime Minister of India and the President of France in 2015 at UNFCCC CoP 21
Paris, France. It is headquartered in India. It has its Secretariat located in
the campus of National Institute of Solar Energy, Gurgaon, Haryana

Members: The ISA is open to 121
countries, most of them located between the Tropics of Cancer and
Capricorn. So far, 84 countries have signed the ISA agreement.

Aim: To create a collaborative platform
for increased deployment of solar energy technologies. This would enhance
energy security & sustainable development and ensure equitable access to
energy.

The ISA is in accordance to Sustainable Development Goal 7. SDG 7
calls to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy
for all.

Objectives:

Promote solar technologies and investment in the solar sector
to enhance income generation for the poor and global environment

Formulate projects and programmes to promote solar applications

Develop innovative Financial Mechanisms to reduce cost of
capital

Build a common Knowledge e-Portal for sharing of policy
development experiences and best practices in member countries

Facilitate capacity building for promotion and absorption of
solar technologies and R&D among member countries

Target:

The ISA has set a target of 1
TW of solar energy by 2030, which would require $1 trillion to achieve.

India has set a target of 175
GW of renewable energy capacity by 2022, which includes 100 GW of solar energy.

Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI): It
identifies multiple deprivations at the individual level in health, education
and standard of living.

Gender Development Index: It addresses
gender-gaps in the dimensions of HDI: life expectancy, education, and incomes.

Gender Empowerment Measure: It is based
on estimates of women’s relative economic income, participation in high-paying
positions with economic power, and access to professional and parliamentary
positions.

Multidimensional gender social norms index: It shows how social beliefs can obstruct gender and women’s
empowerment. It takes into account four dimensions – political, educational,
economic and physical integrity.

News: National energy Conservation week will be held from December 14th
to December 20th, 2019

Facts:

About
National energy Conservation Day

The National Energy
Conservation Day is celebrated every year on December 14 since 1991.

The Bureau of Energy Efficiency
(BEE), under Ministry of Power, spearheads the celebrations.

Additional
Information:

Initiatives to Promote Energy Conservation
and Energy Efficiency

Standards and Labeling: The BEE initiated the Standards and Labeling
programme for equipment and appliances in 2006. It provides the consumer
knowledge about the energy efficiency of appliances through a star rating.

Energy Conservation Building Codes (ECBC): It was launched by Ministry of
Power in 2007.It sets minimum energy standards for new commercial
buildings.

National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency (NMEEE): It is one of the eight missions under the National Action
Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC). It aims to strengthen the market for energy
efficiency by creating conducive regulatory and policy regime.

Perform Achieve and Trade
Scheme (PAT):
The scheme provides the option to trade any additional certified energy
savings with other designated consumers to comply with the Specific Energy
Consumption reduction targets.

Bachat Lamp Yojana (BLY): It is a PPP program
comprising of BEE, Distribution Companies (DISCOMs) and private investors. It
seeks to accelerate market transformation in energy efficient lighting.

Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All (UJALA) scheme: It seeks to promote efficient lighting and enhance awareness on
using efficient equipment.